Nogent-le-Rotrou

Get in

Nogent can be reached via the A11 (Paris - Nantes) motorway, which passes 20 km south of the town. There are also regular trains from the Montparnasse station in Paris. Travel time by car from Paris is about 1 hr 45 min. Train can take a few minutes less (1 hr 30 min) if you take a regional express heading to Le Mans.

Get around

The town is small and it is easy to get around by foot. There is a limited urban bus service operated by Nosbus which is not particularly useful for the average tourist.

See

thumb|Château Saint-Jean.

The town is dominated by the heavily fortified walls and towers of the 12/13th century Château Saint-Jean, which sits atop a rocky promontory about 1 km south of the town centre. Giving a great view over 5 valleys, it's easy to see why the spot was chosen.

Do

Nogent is well-placed to visit the rolling countryside of the Perche

Percheval: early May. A celebration of the Percheron (draught horse) and the medieval roots of the town, centred around the castle.

Eat

The town offers about a dozen restaurants, half of them being pizzeria-grills. For more up-market fare there are several restaurants in the surrounding villages (up to 20 km away).

Brasserie de l'Hôtel de Ville, 30 place Saint-Pol. Right on the main square. Spacious, open late and the people are friendly. Food is served until about 22:00 and the bar stays open later. There is a full menu, offering choucroute, pasta, tartare, flammekeuche, mussels, etc. They also do snacks such as sandwiches, croque-monsieur, etc. The place is shut on Sunday evenings and Monday. Prices vary, with starters at about €6 main courses from €8 to €13 (Starter + main course + dessert + 50cl beer = €29). There is a fixed price lunchtime menu at €9.50 (as of 2010). Café Saint-Pol, 22 place Saint-Pol: Another bar/restaurant on the main square with meals at lunchtime and in the evening. (Steak with side salad + 50cl wine + cheese = €25). Shut on Sunday. There is a fixed price lunchtime menu at €9.50. The bar has started to sell the "local" Nogentaise beer. Casa Line, place Saint-Pol. Restaurant attached to the bar of the same name. Offers a variety of fare at a variety of prices with nothing being exhorbitant. The only "pure" restaurant on the place Saint-Pol and so the decor is more refined, even though the plastic chairs may not be to everybody's taste (Starter + main course + dessert + 50cl wine = €29). Le Picotin, 24 rue de la Herse: Between the place Saint Pol and the place du Onze Août. A pizzeria…